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Natural Saltwater Pearls Pearls traditionally are created within various types of saltwater mollusks or clam shells. Natural pearls indicate that there is no man made interference or methodology to creating the pearl. In other words, a tiny irritant lodges by accident within the interior of a living clam. The organisim secrets nacre (a lustrous substance) to coat the irritantl. The more it deposits atop the bothersome irritant, the larger the pearl. Generally, the rounder the pearl, the larger it is, the thickher the nacre, thewhiter and more beautiful its surface, the more rare and valuable it is. Natgural pearls are...

Enamel in jewelry has existed for thousands of years. Essentially colored glass, powdered and applied most often to a metal base, it is fired at sufficient temperatures to melt and form decorative surfaces. There are many types of enames and we have chosen five types to illustrate. Guilloche (Basse Taille) Transparent or translucent enamel is placed over metal that has often been enhanced with a pattern. The technique is commonly named "engine turned" for the machine which impresses tiny intricate designs into the metal base.  Champleve Channels are carved out of metal to make a well which is then filled with...

Many are familiar with the Three C’s of diamond buying: color, clarity and cut. For a quick review diamonds are graded for color from white to yellow starting with D as the highest or whitest color.  Vintage Diamond Engagement Ring Color I-J White diamonds are often also grouped further. They are termed in the following way: Colorless: (or whitest) if they merit a D, E or F color. Near Colorless: Colors G, H I and J. Faint Color: Colors K, L and M. Very Light Yellow: N through R colors. Below an R they move into the fancy yellow diamond...

Maker & Muse is the poetic title of the current exhibition at the Driehaus Museum in Chicago, Illinois. Focused entirely on twentieth-century art jewelry, the show includes some impressive and spectacular pieces. From Louis Comfort Tiffany in the US to Wiener Werkstätte for the Jugendstil movement (German and Austrian works of the Art Nouveau), the museum offers some heart-fluttering works of art for the body. Now through January of 2016.  Image courtesy of the Driehaus Museum.  Images from left to right: Frederick James Partridge (English, 1877-1942) for Liberty & Co. (English, established 1875), Tiara with Corn Design, c. 1900. Collection of Richard H....